Atmospheric circulation indices and their influence on the temperature regime of south coast of Crimea in winter periods

Abstract

Based on the analysis of hydrometeorological observation data obtained for the period 1981–2018, the regional features of the air temperature over South coast of Crimea in the cold season (December-March) as influenced by atmospheric circulation are studied. The degree of influence of the Northern hemisphere teleconnection patterns (North Atlantic Oscillation, East Atlantic, East Atlantic/West Russian, and Scandinavian) on the surface air temperature variability is analyzed. The extremely cold winters are observed in the region during the weakening of zonal circulation and development of anticyclonic blocking over the Northern Europe and extremely warm – with increased zonal circulation in the Atlantic-European region. This is manifested in the observed combinations of positive and negative phases of the considered modes. It is noted that the observed local air temperature anomalies are also associated with the local circulation as influenced by the complexity of the underlying relief and seasonal interaction of maritime and continental air masses in the coastal zone between the Crimean Mountains southern slope and the Black Sea.